Photographic retouching machine



Feb. 27, 1951 o. VANDEWEGE 2,543,616

PHOTOGRAPHIC RETOUCHING MACHINE Filed Aug. 5, 1949 q W Z 36 4 F lg. 4.

Inventor 40 42 Orville Vandewege 1' 1 Home Patented Feb. 27, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PHOTOGRAPHIC RETOUCHING MACHINE Orville Vandewege, Lincoln, Nebr. Application August 5, 1949, Serial No. 108,742 (01. 95 1os) 4 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to a new and novel photographic retouching machine for use in retouching negatives and the like.

An object of this invention is to retouch photographic negatives in order to remove blemishes by use of a retouching pencil in conjunction with the improved photographic retouching machine to be henceforth disclosed.

Another object of the invention is to actuate a vibrating board in the retouching machine using new and novel means.

A further object of the invention is to actuate the vibrating board in the retouching machine at a specific and substantially constant frequency. V

A yet further object of the invention is to easily vary the amplitude of the vibrations of the vibrating board.

Still further objects of the invention are to hold a negative in safe contact with the vibrating board and to hold the negative in position for easy application of the retouching pencil thereto.

Yet another object of the invention is to vary the density of the pencil lead applied to the original negative to remove wrinkles, blemishes, unwanted highlights and shadows, and various other imperfections that might detract from the quality of the finished developed print, by simple and novel means.

These, together with various ancillary objects of the invention which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are realized by this invention, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated, by way of example only in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the photographic retouching machine;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 22 of Figure 1, and not showing the electrical circuit connected thereto;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view. along line 3-3 as in Figure 2 illustrating the preferred manner of mounting the vibrating board upon the base and showing in schematic diagram the electrical circuit connected thereto;

Figure 4 is a top view of the vibrating board forming one element of the invention.

Referring now particularly to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals indicate similar parts throughout the various views, the numeral designates generally the photographic retouching machine forming and comprising this invention. Side panels l2 and 14, preferably constructed from plywood or the like, are connected together by a rear panel I6, and an arcuate upper panel [B is glued or otherwise joined to the side panels and the rear panel as shown best in Figures 1 and 2.

A base member 20 having an aperture 22 therein is suitably glued or otherwise secured to the inner surfaces of the side walls 12 and I4, and the rear wall 16 in a slanting position relative to rear wall and the horizontal, and perpendicular to the side walls. By means of clips 24 mounted on the underside of base plate 20 a light diffusing shield 26 is secured over the aperture 22.. The shield 26 is preferably made of translucent plastic. An aluminum reflecting shield-28 is secured to the base plate 20 and sur- 7 rounds and encompasses the aperture 22. Operatively attached to the aluminum reflecting shield 28 and positioned within such shield is a source of light 30.

A plurality of spacers 32, preferably cut from pipe stock are positioned against the upper surface of said base 20 in alignment with bolt holes in the base 20. A vibrating board 34 having bolt holes 36 is positioned above the spacers 32 in alignment with the bolt holes in the base 20. Stove bolts 38 are used to secure the vibrating board 34 and the spacers 32 to the base 20. Centrally disposed in the vibrating board 34 is an aperture 40, preferably of oval shape, and adapted to be positioned in alignment with the aperture 22 in the base 20. On the bottom side of the vibrating board 34 and spaced from each of the two flattened sides of the oval hole 40 are two soft iron plates 42. The vibrating board 34 is preferably made from a non-conducting material of plastic composition.

Rigidly fastened to the base 20 by means of bolts 44, or the like are a pair of electromagnets 46. These preferably volts, milli-ampere electromagnets are positioned upon the upper surface of the base 20 in alignment with the soft iron plate 42 attached to the undersurface of the vibrating board The two electromagnets 46 are identical and are preferably constructed by winding 2,500 turns of annealed copper wire on a soft iron core of about of an inch in diameter and suitable length. The iron core will protrude from the upper side of the electromagnets 48 so that there is an. air gap between the electromagnets and the soft iron plates 42 of approximately of an inch.

Since considerably more air-gap flux, and consequently more pulling power, can be gained through the use of, pulsating direct current rather than alternating current, the two electromagnets 46 are connected electrically in parallel. The electrical circuits are best shown in Figure 3. In each parallel circuit a 200 milli-ampere selenium rectifier 48 is inserted in such alternate fashion that the electromagnets 46 will only become energized on alternate half cycles ofthe alternating current source. Selenium rectifiers are so constructed that they will conduct electric current in only one direction. Rheostat 50, and switch 52 are connected in series with the parallel electromagnet circuits. A plug 54 for connecting the electrical circuits with an alternating current source is provided.

The operation of the machine can easily be understood by the following description. The plug 1 is first inserted into a 110 to 120 volt alternating current outlet, and the switch 52 is closed to complete the electrical circuit. Sixty cycle current is standard over most of the United States, and is preferable for use in the present invention. Using 60 cycle alternating current which changes the direction of its flow each half cycle an instantaneous direction of current flow in a first direction through the circuit will be eifected. Since the selenium rectifier 43 will only conduct current in the direction of the pointed element schematically shown, one rectifier will not conduct in the first direction and the whole current will take an alternate path through the other rectifier 43. This current in turn will pass through the electromagnet ii connected in the same circuit as the first rectifier. The current energizes the electromagnet and the resulting flux produces a magnetic attraction for the iron plate 12. The iron plate and the plastic board are thus pulled downward toward the magnet. On the second half or the cycle the current will be flowing in a direction opposite to the first direction and cannot pas through the first rectifier. The current will therefore take a path through the second rectifier, energizing the second electromagnet, and pulling the second iron plate 42 and vibrating board 34 towards it, The next cycle is a repetition of the first as is all those that follow. It is easy to see that such action imparts a pull to each soft iron plate 42 every cycle. Therefore there are a total of 120 vibrations per second when .the current source is 60 cycle alternating current. It i very desirable that the board vibrate at 120 cycles per second for the sensitivity of the board 34 can be readily controlled at such frequency. The vibrating board as it is thus mounted vibrates with a vertical motion with a concentration of the vi brations in and around the hole Ml where it is most needed. The amplitude of the vibrations can be readily controlled by the rheostat 50 in series with the parallel circuits. Rheostat 50 adjusts the voltage applied to the electromagnet windings.

A top plate 56 is secured to the side panels l2 and I4, and the rear panel [6 parallel to the base plate 20 and spaced above the vibrating board 34. The top plate is provided with an opening in which a cover 58 is removably positioned. This cover is hinged as at B0, to the top plate 56. Therefore the cover 58 is adapted to be pivoted out of the aforesaid opening. Attached to the undersurface of the cover 58 are spring clamps 62 adapted to hold a negative such as shown at 64 against the vibrating board 34. The spring clamps 62 are so positioned as to position the negative over the opening 40. The cover plate 58 has a hole 66 in alignment with the hole 40 in the vibrating board 34. A lamp B8 operatively connected to a power source is mounted on the top plate 56.

It can be readily seen that the operator who is doing the retouching may rest his hands on the top plate without damping the vibrations imparted to the negative. Thus the work consisting in making a plurality of microscopic, overlapping check marks or loops which are so small and so uniform that they do not become apparent on a large print from a negative is more readily and easily done.

Since numerous embodiments may be utilized falling within the spirit and principles of the invention, it is not desired to limit the latter to the exact construction shown and described, except as required by the scope of the following claims.

Having described the claimed as new is:

l. A photographic retouching machine comprising a base having an aperture therethrough, a vibrating board having a hole therein mounted upon said base and spaced therefrom, said plate having an opening therein, a cover pivotally hinged to said plate and filling said opening, said cover having a hole therein in alignment with said hole in said board, a plurality of means attached to said base and said board alternately causing said board to vibrate, said means including a plurality of iron plates secured to said board, a plurality of electromagnets secured to said base and spaced from said iron plates, said electromagnets being connected in parallel circuits to a source of alternating current, and means in said parallel circuits alternately causing said electromagnets to contact said iron plates thus vibrating said board.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said last named means include respectively reversed rectifiers in each of said parallel circuits.

3. The structure of claim 2 including means in series in connection with said parallel circuits for selectively adjustin the voltage applied to said parallel circuits thereby regulating the amplitude of the vibrations of said board.

4. The structure of claim 3 including spring means secured to the bottom surface of said cover and in resilient contact with said board.

ORVILLE VANDEWEGE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS invention, what is Number Name Date 632,643 Choate Sept. 5, 1899 2,422,174 Adams June 17, 1947 2,498,168 Lloyd Feb. 21, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 764,297 France Mar. 5, 1934 

